FIFA finally has given permission for the Spanish La Liga season to be extended.


Football´s governing body, FIFA, had opposed several suggestions made by LFP so far. Now, La Liga is allowed to extend the season and re-schedule, so two important matches can go ahead on Tuesday next week, with all players that have been called up by their national teams for the World Cup in Germany in the squads.



Seville's match against Real Madrid and Osasuna's game against Valencia will now be played next Tuesday (May 16) with both sides having all their international stars available.


The entire saga started when Barcelona's match at Seville was called off last month due to a waterlogged pitch. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) could not find a suitable date to play the match due to the fact that both Spanish teams, Seville and FC Barcelona have to appear in their European finals. Seville has to appear in todays UEFA Cup Final and Barcelona will play Arsenal in the Champions League Final a week later.


The Spanish LFP (League Association) asked FIFA to play the match on May 20 with all the World Cup players, but FIFA only allowed the match to go ahead without the international players that have been called up for the World Cup. Several clubs interviened and complained that Seville would gain an unfair advantage as Barça have 12 players called up for World Cup duty and had to play with a second team.


The LFP then asked FIFA to move the entire last match day to be played after the Champions League final on May 20 with the Seville against Barça encounter going ahead this weekend (May 13) but this alternative suggestion was rejected too. The final and acceptable proposal was that Sevilla will play against Barcelona this Saturday along with seven other games, including the matches that will decide who takes the final relegation place.


The games that will decide the European place, Sevilla v Real Madrid and Osasuna v Valencia, will be played next Tuesday with all the world cup stars included and Barça will travel to meet Athletic Bilbao in a meaningless match on May 20 without the international players.


Overview of the new match schedule:


Saturday, May 13

Sevilla v Barcelona
Alaves v Deportivo La Coruna

Cadiz v Malaga
Celta v Getafe

Mallorca v Zaragoza
Espanyol v Real Sociedad

Atletico Madrid v Betis
Villarreal v Racing


Tuesday, May 16

Sevilla v Real Madrid
Osasuna v Valencia


Saturday, May 20

Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona